3 Jan
Ooh, This Just Makes Me So Mad!
I get both really riled up and sad at the same time whenever I hear or read of those who profess to be serving God fleece gullible people out of their hard-earned money while giving them false promises.
Oh, you wolves in sheep’s clothing! Woe to you!
Just read about this poor woman — Cindy Fleenor’s a 53-year-old accountant, someone smart by academic standards anywhere in the world, and she’s been conned into writing so many checks to these wolves in the shape of Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer and Paula White that she has to borrow money from friends and payday loan companies just to buy groceries!
And when the promises didn’t come about (of course they didn’t, because they are false!), she learned that it was because her faith wasn’t strong enough.
Is it any wonder that she’s now bitter and angry? And the worse thing is that this episode might just push her away from God and she loses the real promise — salvation — because of the misdeeds of these wolves!
What makes me sad is that if Cindy had only learned to discern, read her Bible, and learned that we are to avoid such wolves, she wouldn’t have run into those problems and be now angry and bitter with herself and possibly with God too.
Paul warned us of these people a long time ago in his epistle:
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
That’s right — these people only serve their own appetites, not God. And notice what Paul so rightly pointed out about such folks way past in the first century A.D., that they deceive the hearts of the naive by smooth talk and flattery.
If you’ve never done so, take a listen to one such pastor, like Joel Osteen, and you’ll immediately notice how ‘nice’ and slick they are — the confident smiles, those pearly white teeth, neat designer togs and how well they present themselves.
And note how much they care and know about all your lacks, that you so need financial breakthroughs, a brand new car, some new level of self-esteem, etcetera etcetera. All you need to do to “claim those promises of God” is to write a check and pledge some money to their ministry and God shall give you your 40-fold, 60-fold, even 100-fold reward of what you sowed!
Maybe someone forgot to mention to these poor, gullible people that they are in the wrong faith if they are looking for financial breakthroughs and a new level of feel-good, because Jesus Christ specifically said to expect trials, tribulations and even persecution when you follow Him!
It is also a reflection of the sad state of affairs now where so many call themselves Christians but never take the time to study God’s Word! And even if they did read their Bibles, they don’t take the time to check if their pastor is teaching the right thing as the good Bereans did.
And this failure to do so allows these wolves to quote Bible verses out of context, and even sometimes taking verses from what most Bible-believing Christians would term bad translations of the Bible to support their agenda.
It also surprises me that so many people will do their homework and due diligence on so many aspects of their normal lives like buying a new car or a house, but not be as discerning when it comes to the most important thing — their state in eternity!
Sigh! I really don’t know whether to feel sad or be really angry with these wolves in sheep’s clothing for leading so many astray. Of one issue I am very clear on and would like to advise those of you in such churches listening to similar sermons: get out of there and start reading and understanding what God really teaches in His word, the Bible!
The prosperity gospel is a false gospel!
John Piper puts it best in this little video snippet on what he thinks of the prosperity gospel, and I think it’ll be best for me to let him do it on my behalf since he’s got it right on the nail.
Shalom Aleichem.
Source of Story: “Believer Bitter Over ‘Prosperity’ Preachings.” CNN.Com. 27 Dec. 2007. 02 Jan. 2008 <http://edition.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/12/27/prosperity.preachers.ap/index.html>.
Tags: Apostasy, Benny Hinn, Bible, Falsehoods, Gospel, Joel Osteen, John Piper, Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Prosperity, Wolves
Posted by Casey on 03.01.08 at 1:20
Sad, indeed. More people need to open up their Bibles and read for themselves in the proper context.
Posted by Sicarii on 03.01.08 at 1:20
Indeed! Speaking of context, those people at I35 also need to do some brushing up on Biblical context… man!
Posted by Sigit on 03.01.08 at 1:20
Well, in the end. Don’t put our hope too much in human than in Jesus.. being prosper is one of GOD’s plan and we should learn it straight to The Bible itself, with His way, not in the human way
Posted by Carol on 03.01.08 at 1:20
False teachers are the lowest form of vermin on this planet because they lead millions straight to hell with their lies and deceptiveness! God used the perfect analogy of wolves with false teachers because while wolves (the animal) eat different types of animals, they have an insatiable appetite for sheep. And so it is with the wolves leading the sheep astray. They care not for the sheep, they are hirelings bent on destroying us. They embody all of the things God hates: lies, deceptiveness, twisting of God’s Word, pride, greed, covetousness and the list goes on.
When a wolf (the real animal) plans an attack on a heard of sheep, they don’t just chase and pounce like lions do. They blend in and mingle with the sheep, giving the appearance of being one of them. They don’t make any sudden movements as to startle them. Sheep are not the smartest of animals so they accept this wolf as one of them. The wolf will nudge them and rub up against them like a baby cub to it’s mother. Then when the time is right and he’s got his prey where he wants them, he shows his teeth and devours the closest sheep. Yes, God used the perfect analogy when comparing false teachers to wolves!
The one verse in the Bible that drives me, of which I am most passionate about, that gives me this insatiable desire to warn His precious sheep and expose wolves is Matt 7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
That verse has spoken to me in a powerful way. While there are other verses of warning, they are primarily focused on the individual. (unforgiveness, fornication, coveting etc) But Matt 7:15 is a very different kind of warning, I feel, because it involves mass amounts of people at the same time. These wolves are taking down millions of people every Sunday and for that reason, I feel Matt 7:15 is the most important verse of warning for His sheep.
Posted by Sicarii on 03.01.08 at 1:20
Indeed, Sigit. However, it’s also human nature to want immediate solutions to our daily problems, and sometimes many think that by doing something good for someone, they will be blessed in return and God shall reward them in the ways that they want to be rewarded.
The Bible doesn’t teach that at all. In fact, we are to rejoice in our tribulations and give thanks to God for them. It is through trials and tribulations that God prepares our character to serve Him.
Shalom Aleichem.
Posted by Sicarii on 03.01.08 at 1:20
Carol, that’s a great insight into how real wolves work on their prey and how it relates back to the Bible teaching that these false teachers are alike wolves in sheep’s clothing!
I concur with you that that’s a very important warning, but there are many who will not want to listen. Instead, they sometimes even turn around and accuse us of not being united and unloving. What rubbish!
Personally, in those situations I will try my best to enlighten them as best as I can with Biblical teachings, but I also remember well that Christ Jesus said that in the these days many shall give heed to their itchy ears and not want to listen to Truth.
Woe it is to the false teachers, for God shall hold them accountable, and judge them severely for leading so many astray!
Shalom Aleichem.
Posted by childlife on 03.01.08 at 1:20
Joel Osteen… bleh. Bleh. I frequently turn his books around in store displays as I pass them hoping that the next time I pass through I won’t have to see his slithery little grin.
Posted by Sicarii on 03.01.08 at 1:20
LOL, Mic! Can’t fault you for creating job opportunities for the store assistants.
By the way, did you know that SNL (I think) did a parody on his grin with some teeth-whitening ‘advertisement’. Saw it on YouTube some time ago.
Shalom Aleichem.
Posted by Deborah on 03.01.08 at 1:20
I have found people with the same heart, who understand that we’re not to seek after riches, but we’re to seek after the kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else! And you’re right in your reply to Carol about those who are caught up in this particular teaching - “they sometimes even turn around and accuse us of not being united and unloving.” I hate what prosperity gospel has done to new Believers who have asked Yeshua to come into their lives and hearts in hopes He is going to make the difference they know need (they’re fed up with their way of life), but who are then fed a false gospel that will cause them to stumble when the prosperity formula doesn’t workout as anticipated. Or worse, new Believers are people who asked Yeshua to be the Lord of their lives ONLY in the hope He can make them wealthy because lotteries have failed - they’re basically told that getting in good with God is another ‘lottery’ to to be won (this mindset is obvious when observing the appeals made by false teachers when soliciting for donations).
Each of us does have a responsibility to read our Bibles and pray for discernment, but these are immature Believers who may not hear, or care, that they need to read their Bibles and be good Bereans. They are ‘babes’ - ignorant (in the truest sense of the word). Let’s pray for the weaker ones, asking God to salvage their faith in Him by sending good teachers into their lives who will teach them the need to study their Bibles and that they are commanded to obey God, which is quite a bit easier to do when we cultivate a love for Him first. And even though we’re told there WILL BE false teachers, let’s still pray for the false teachers in hopes more won’t be led astray: pray God will press in on them with the convicting power of His Holy Spirit and where there remains the slightest bit of conscience, let’s ask God to remind them of His truth - they need to repent and turn to God with all their hearts and seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, not sustenance… and certainly not prosperity. God does want us to be prosperous, but it’s not prosperity as the Western culture understands it (loved the John Piper video! So true, so true!).
1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. (Luke 17:1-2)
Posted by Sicarii on 03.01.08 at 1:20
I love your analogy of the lottery, Deborah. I didn’t think of it that way, but you’re totally right! God is a vending machine and if they put in enough coins they might strike the lottery, so to speak.
Your reminder to pray for these false teachers is a great one. Too often we’ll preach against their false teachings but many of us forget to pray for them, that they themselves shall repent and come to be saved.
I love these two great points in your comment, Deborah. Thank you very much for sharing!
Shalom Aleichem.
Posted by SewAnyway on 03.01.08 at 1:20
My mother was already making bad choices, but life went from bad to worse when she got caught up in the health and wealth gospel. As a child, when I was sick she would “pray” over me - when I didn’t get better instantly, it was because I didn’t have enough faith. Now as an adult, a mother, and a follower of Jesus I know it was just cheaper for her not to take me to the doctor. I remember being very hungry all growing up - come to find out she gave away thousands, she had to keep her “vows” to God. It is amazing now to study the bible and find out that most of the verses that were drilled into us week after week really had nothing to do with money or promises of perfect health. After leaving my parents house, I was very jaded about attending church - but through good friends and my desire for community I can see where God restores and renews in His amazing ways. I teach my kids the truth about the Bible to the best of my ability, I feed my kids good food, and I take them to the doctor when they are sick. All the while we pray and acknowledge that God is control and that we can always trust Him. I pray for my mother and hope that she will come around to understand the difference between “declared righteous” and not yet “made righteous”.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic, it gives me comfort to see righteous anger about how lies corrupt lives.